Disc device with carrier for retaining plurality of stacked discs

ABSTRACT

A disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs in a stacked state so as to separate one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray ejected from arbitrary one of the disc drives, and to place the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a spindle unit inserted into a center hole formed in each of the discs, a first hold claw portion which holds an inner circumferential portion of the disc, and a second hold claw portion provided at a position higher than the first hold claw portion by a substantially thickness of one disc, the second hold claw portion holding an inner circumferential portion of the disc. One disc from the retained discs is separated by shifting the first and second hold claw portions back and forth between an inner side and an outer side of the spindle unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The technical field relates to a disc device that supplies a disc (a disc-like information recording medium such as a CD or a DVD) to each of a plurality of disc drives.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, as a disc device of this type, a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Document 1 (JP 2011-204311 A) is known, for example. The disc device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a magazine that stores a plurality of trays that stores one disc, and a plurality of disc drives. The disc device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is structured such that an arbitrary tray is drawn out from the magazine. One disc stored in the drawn out tray is suctioned and held by a suction pad, and the disc is placed on the tray of an arbitrary disc drive.

With the disc device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the number of discs that can be stored in the magazine is small because the disc device is structured to store one disc per tray. For increasing the number of discs stored in the magazine, it may be effective to directly stack a plurality of discs without use of the trays, to thereby reduce the number of trays.

However, in this case, the discs being adjacent to one another stick fast together, and will not be separated from one another easily. Japanese Patent Document 2 (JP 2000-117553 A) discloses the technique for solving such a problem. Patent Document 2 discloses the following technique: separating adjacent two discs from each other by inserting claw portions between the two discs; and allowing the separated discs to be suctioned and held by suction pads.

PATENT DOCUMENTS

Patent Document 1: JP 2011-204311 A

Patent Document 2: JP 2000-117553 A

A further increase in the number of stored discs is demanded of such disc devices. In order to increase the number of stored discs, simply thinking, the number of magazines should be increased.

However, an increase in the number of pieces of magazines inevitably increases the distance between the disc drive and a magazine that is placed at the farthest position from the disc drive. This invites an increase in the disc conveying time. Further, since the disc device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is structured to supply the disc one by one from the magazine to the disc drives, considerable time is required for supplying the discs to the plurality of disc drives.

Further, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 cannot prevent the increase in time of supplying the discs to the plurality of disc drives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides a disc device that can avoid an increase in the time required for supplying discs to a plurality of disc drives.

In particular, a disc device of the present invention supplies a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives. The disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs being stacked in such a stacked state, which separates one disc from the retained plurality of discs at a position above a tray ejected from arbitrary one of the disc drives, and which places the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a spindle unit inserted into a center hole formed in each of the plurality of discs; a first hold claw portion which holds an inner circumferential portion of the disc; and a second hold claw portion which is located at a position higher than the first hold claw portion by a substantially thickness of one disc. The second hold claw portion holds an inner circumferential portion of the disc. One disc from the retained plurality of discs is separated by shifting the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion back and forth between an inner side and an outer side of the spindle unit.

With the disc device of the present disclosure, since it is not necessary for the suction pad to suction and hold each disc to reciprocate between the magazine and the disc drive unlike Patent Document 1, an increase in the time required for supplying the discs to the plurality of disc drives can be avoided.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to the first aspect, wherein the first and second hold claw portions shift to: a holding position where only the first hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit, a switching position where both the first and second hold claw portions project outward of the spindle unit, and separating position where only the second hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to the second aspect, wherein the first and second hold claw portions shift to the holding position, the switching position, and the separating position in this order when a cam shaft inserted inside of the spindle unit rotates about an axis of the cam shaft.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to the second or third aspect. When the spindle unit is inserted into the center holes formed in each of the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions are located at the holding position, the first hold claw portion comes into contact with an inner circumferential portion of bottommost disc of the plurality of discs and holds the plurality of discs. When the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions shift from the holding position to the switching position. When the first hold claw portion is conveyed to a position above the tray in a state where the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions shift from the switching position to the separating position.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to the first aspect, wherein the first and second hold claw portions shift to: a stored position where both the first and second hold claw portions recede inside of the spindle unit, a holding position where only the first hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit, a switching position where both the first and second hold claw portions project outward of the spindle unit, and a separating position where only the second hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to the fifth aspect, wherein at least one of the first and second hold claw portions has a plurality of claw portions whose phases are different from one another in a circumferential direction of the spindle unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the first and second hold claw portions shift to the stored position, the holding position, the switching position, and the separating position in this order when a cam shaft inserted inside of the spindle unit rotates about an axis of the cam shaft.

According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, wherein when the spindle unit is inserted into center holes formed in each of the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions are located at the stored position. When the spindle unit is inserted into the center holes until the first hold claw portion is located below bottommost disc of the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions shift from the stored position to the holding position, and the first hold claw portion comes into contact with an inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc and holds the plurality of discs. When the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions shift from the holding position to the switching position. When the first hold claw portion is conveyed to a position above the tray in a state where the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions shift from the switching position to the separating position.

According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to the fourth or eighth aspect, wherein a thickness of the second hold claw portion becomes greater downward from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side. The second hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit when the second hold claw portion is located at the separating position as compared when the second hold claw portion is located at the switching position, and the second hold claw portion presses the bottommost disc downward.

According to a 10th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the disc device according to any one of the second to ninth aspects, wherein an inner circumferential portion of the disc is provided with a recess portion and when the second hold claw portion shifts to the holding position, the second hold claw portion is inserted into the recess portion.

According to an 11th aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a disc used in the disc device according to any one of the second to ninth aspects, wherein an inner circumferential portion of the disc is provided with a recess portion into which the second hold claw portion having shifted to the holding position is inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of a disc device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a magazine included in the disc device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the magazine shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a picker included in the disc device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of a drive system of an up-and-down table included in the picker shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the picker shown in FIG. 3 as seen diagonally from below.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the state where the picker shown in FIG. 3 shifts to the position at the front of the magazine selected from a plurality of magazines.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the manner of the picker shown in FIG. 3 drawing out a magazine tray from the magazine.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the manner of the picker shown in FIG. 3 drawing out the magazine tray from the magazine.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the manner of the picker shown in FIG. 3 drawing out the magazine tray from the magazine.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the manner of the picker shown in FIG. 3 drawing out the magazine tray from the magazine.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the manner of the picker shown in FIG. 3 drawing out the magazine tray from the magazine.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the state where the picker shown in FIG. 3 has drawn out the magazine tray from the magazine.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the state where the picker shown in FIG. 3 has conveyed the magazine tray to a position near the plurality of disc drives.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the state where the picker shown in FIG. 3 has conveyed the magazine tray to a position near the plurality of disc drives.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the state where the picker shown in FIG. 3 has shifted the magazine tray to a position above a lifter included in the disc device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the state where a magazine tray guide of the lifter included in the disc device shown in FIG. 1 is removed.

FIG. 17 is an assembly perspective view showing the state where the magazine tray guide of the lifter included in the disc device shown in FIG. 1 is removed.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a carrier included in the disc device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is a partial enlarged side view of the carrier shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the state where a disc chuck unit included in the carrier shown in FIG. 18 is lowered to a position above and near the magazine tray.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the state where all the discs are held by the disc chuck unit.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the state, which follows the state shown in FIG. 21, where the picker has shifted to the device-front side, and the magazine tray has receded from the position near the disc drive.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the state, which follows the state shown in FIG. 22, where a tray of the bottommost-stage disc drive is ejected.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing the state, which follows the state shown in FIG. 23, where a shift base is lowered such that the plurality of discs retained by the disc chuck unit position above the tray.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the state where the bottommost disc is placed on the tray.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the state, which follows the state shown in FIG. 25, where the tray has been carried into the disc drive.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view where the carrier places a disc on the tray of the topmost-stage disc drive.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the state where a plurality of discs collected by the carrier are stored in the magazine tray.

FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of the disc chuck unit included in the carrier shown in FIG. 18 as seen diagonally from above.

FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view of the disc chuck unit included in the carrier shown in FIG. 18 as seen diagonally from below.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of two separator hooks and two bottom hooks included in the disc chuck unit shown in FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is a cross sectional view showing the discs each provided with a recess portion at their inner circumferential portion.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the state where a spindle head included in the disc chuck unit shown in FIG. 29 is fixed to the bottom end portion of a spindle shaft by a screw.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the spindle head included in the disc chuck unit shown in FIG. 29.

FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view of a camshaft unit included in the disc chuck unit shown in FIG. 29.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of two cam plates included in the camshaft unit shown in FIG. 35 as seen diagonally from below.

FIG. 37A is a diagram showing the manner of a drive pin of one separator hook sliding along a cam groove formed at the top face of one cam plate.

FIG. 37B is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the one separator hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the top face of the one cam plate.

FIG. 37C is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the one separator hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the top face of the one cam plate.

FIG. 37D is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the one separator hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the top face of the one cam plate.

FIG. 38A is a diagram showing the manner of a drive pin of other separator hook sliding along a cam groove formed at the bottom face of the one cam plate.

FIG. 38B is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the other separator hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the bottom face of the one cam plate.

FIG. 38C is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the other separator hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the bottom face of the one cam plate.

FIG. 38D is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the other separator hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the bottom face of the one cam plate.

FIG. 39A is a diagram showing the manner of a drive pin of one bottom hook sliding along a cam groove formed at the top face of other cam plate.

FIG. 39B is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the one bottom hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the top face of the other cam plate.

FIG. 39C is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the one bottom hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the top face of the other cam plate.

FIG. 39D is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the one bottom hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the top face of the other cam plate.

FIG. 40A is a diagram showing the manner of a drive pin of other bottom hook sliding along a cam groove formed at the bottom face of the other cam plate.

FIG. 40B is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the other bottom hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the bottom face of the other cam plate.

FIG. 40C is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the other bottom hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the bottom face of the other cam plate.

FIG. 40D is a diagram showing the manner of the drive pin of the other bottom hook sliding along the cam groove formed at the bottom face of the other cam plate.

FIG. 41A is a diagram showing the manner of the hooks shown in FIGS. 37A to 40D sliding along corresponding cam grooves, focusing on the positional relationship between a camshaft and the hooks.

FIG. 41B is a diagram showing the manner of the hooks shown in FIGS. 37A to 40D sliding along corresponding cam grooves, focusing on the positional relationship between the camshaft and the hooks.

FIG. 41C is a diagram showing the manner of the hooks shown in FIGS. 37A to 40D sliding along corresponding cam grooves, focusing on the positional relationship between the camshaft and the hooks.

FIG. 41D is a diagram showing the manner of the hooks shown in FIGS. 37A to 40D sliding along corresponding cam grooves, focusing on the positional relationship between the camshaft and the hooks.

FIG. 42 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 43 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 44 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 45 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 46 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 47 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 48 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 49 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

FIG. 50 is a diagram schematically showing the manner of the carrier shown in FIG. 18 separating one disc from a plurality of discs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, with reference to the drawings, a description will be given of an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is to be noted that, identical reference characters are allotted to identical or corresponding parts throughout the drawings referred to in the following, and description thereof will not be repeated.

Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of a disc device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is to be noted that, in the present embodiment, the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the “device-front side”, and the right side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the “device-rear side”.

Firstly, with reference to FIG. 1, a description will be given of an overall structure of the disc device according to the present embodiment.

The disc device according to the present embodiment includes two magazine stockers 1, 1. The two magazine stockers 1, 1 are provided on a bottom chassis 11 so as to oppose to each other in a device width direction Y. It is to be noted that, in FIG. 1, one of the magazine stockers 1 (on the near side) is not shown. Further, the top panel and the partition plate of the magazine stocker 1 are not shown in FIG. 1.

Each magazine stocker 1 stores a plurality of magazines 2. Each magazine 2 includes magazine trays 21 storing a plurality of (e.g., 12 pieces of) discs. Between the two magazine stockers 1, 1, a picker 3 that draws out the magazine tray 21 from one magazine 2 selected from a plurality of magazines 2 and that holds the magazine tray 21 is provided.

The picker 3 is structured to convey the held magazine tray 21 to a position near a plurality of disc drives 4 arranged at the device-rear side. The picker 3 is integrally provided with a lifter 5 that pushes out a plurality of discs from the magazine tray 21.

Each of the disc drives 4 is an apparatus that performs recording or reproducing of information on or from a discs, and each of the disc drives 4 is a tray-scheme disc drive that loads discs using trays. The plurality of disc drives 4 are stacked in a device height direction Z, and arranged so as to be adjacent to the magazine stockers 1, 1 on the device-rear side. Between the plurality of disc drives 4 arranged as being stacked so as to be adjacent to one magazine stocker 1 and the plurality of disc drives 4 arranged as being stacked so as to be adjacent to the other magazine stocker 1, a carrier 6 is provided.

The carrier 6 is structured to: retain a plurality of discs pushed out by the lifter 5 in such a stacked state; separate one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray 4 a (see FIG. 23) ejected from an arbitrary disc drive 4; and place the separated disc on the tray 4 a.

Further toward the device-rear side than where the carrier 6 and the plurality of disc drives 4 are located, an electric circuit and a power supply 7 are provided. The electric circuit and the power supply 7 are provided with a control unit that controls operations (motor and the like) of devices such as the picker 3, the disc drives 4, the carrier 6, and the like. The control unit is connected to, for example, a host computer that manages data. The host computer sends commands to the control unit to perform operations such as data reading from or writing on the specified magazine 2, based on instructions from the operator. The control unit controls the operation of the devices such as the picker 3, the disc drive 4, the carrier 6, and the like according to the commands.

Next, a description will be given of the structure of the aforementioned devices and components in more detail.

The magazine stockers 1 are provided along guide rails 12 that slidably guide the picker 3. The guide rails 12 are provided so as to extend in a device depth direction X (in the longitudinal direction of the magazine stockers 1). A grip 13 is provided at the side face on the device-front side of each magazine stocker 1. The magazine stocker 1 can be shifted toward the device-front side by the grip 13 being pulled. Each magazine stocker 1 is provided with a partition plate (not shown) formed to be grid-like as seen from the device width direction Y. In each of the spaces surrounded by the partition plate, the magazine 2 is stored.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the magazine 2 includes the magazine tray 21, and a case 22 that has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and that stores the magazine tray 21. As shown in FIG. 2B, at the front face (one side face) of the case 22, an opening 22 a into which the magazine tray 21 can be inserted and taken out is provided.

The magazine tray 21 is formed to have an outer shape being substantially rectangular in planar view. The magazine tray 21 stores a plurality of discs 100 as being stacked in close contact with one another. At the opposing corner portions that position on the back side of the magazine case 22 in a state where the magazine tray 21 is stored in the case 22, cut portions 21 a, 21 a are formed. Further, a side face 21 b that positions on the back side of the magazine case 22 in the state where the magazine tray 21 is stored in the magazine case 22 is formed to be arc-like as a whole including the cut portions 21 a, 21 a.

At the opposing corner portions that position on the front face side of the case 22 in the state where the magazine tray 21 is stored in the case 22, cutout portions 21 c, 21 c are formed. On the inner side of the cutout portions 21 c, 21 c in the width direction of the magazine tray 21, there are engaging recess portions 21 d, 21 d with which a pair of hooks 35, 35, whose description will follow, engage.

The magazine tray 21 is provided with a core rod, which is inserted into a center hole 100 a provided at each of the plurality of discs 100 to restrict shifting of the discs 100 in the plane direction. This core rod 38 prevents the discs 100 from being damaged by such shifting of the discs 100 in the plane direction. The core rod 23 is provided with an engaging portion 23 a for engaging with a spindle head 67 b of a disc chuck unit 62, whose description will follow.

Near the core rod 23, at least one hole 21 e into which up-and-down pins 52 a of the lifter 5, whose description will follow, are provided. In the present embodiment, three holes 21 e are provided at an interval of 120 degrees. Further, the three holes 21 e are provided at the position opposing to the non-recording-and-reproducing region of the inner circumferential portion of each disc 100 when the disc 100 is inserted into the core rod 23.

The picker 3 includes a run base 31. As shown in FIG. 3, a movable platform 31 a slidably shifting along the guide rail 12 is attached on one magazine stocker 1 side of the run base 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a roller 31 b is attached on other magazine stocker 1 side of the run base 31.

As shown in FIG. 3, the run base 31 is provided with a picker motor 31 c that produces drive force for causing the picker 3 to shift in the device depth direction X. A reduction gear 31 d meshes with a motor gear 31 i, into which the drive shaft of the picker motor 31 c is press fitted. The reduction gear 31 d meshes with a pinion gear 31 e. The pinion gear 31 e meshes with a rack 14 provided adjacent to the guide rail 12 to extend in the device depth direction X.

When the picker motor 31 c is driven, the drive force of the picker motor 31 c is transferred to the pinion gear 31 e via the motor gear 31 i and the reduction gear 31 d, to rotate the pinion gear 31 e. Here, the rack 14 is fixed to the bottom chassis 11. On the other hand, the run base 31 is not fixed to the bottom chassis 11. Accordingly, when the pinion gear 31 e rotates, the pinion gear 31 e shifts along the rack 14, whereby the picker 3 shifts in the device depth direction X.

As the picker motor 31 c, for example, a stepping motor is employed. Applying a prescribed pulse to the picker motor 31 c, the picker 3 can be shifted to be located at the front of a prescribed magazine 2.

A picker base 31 h made of resin is attached to the run base 31 made of a sheet metal. The picker base 31 h is provided with a rotary table 32 so as to be rotatable substantially about a rotation axis 32 a extending in the device height direction Z. Further, the picker base 31 h is provided with a rotary table motor 31 f that produces the drive force for causing the rotary table 32 to rotate. As shown in FIG. 4, a reduction gear 31 g meshes with the motor gear 31 j, into which the drive shaft of the rotary table motor 31 f is press fitted. The reduction gear 31 g meshes with a rotary table gear 32 b provided at the outer circumferential portion of the rotary table 32. When the rotary table motor 31 f is driven, the drive force of the rotary table motor 31 f is transferred to the rotary table gear 32 b via the motor gear 31 j and the reduction gear 31 g, whereby the rotary table 32 rotates.

The rotary table 32 is provided with a pair of up-and-down rails 33, 33 extending along the device height direction Z and opposing to each other. Between the pair of up-and-down rails 33, 33, an up-and-down table 34 is provided. Further, the rotary table 32 is provided with an up-and-down table motor 32 c that produces the drive force for causing the up-and-down table 34 to rise and lower.

As shown in FIG. 4, a relay gear 32 d meshes with a motor gear 32 k, into which the drive shaft of the up-and-down table motor 32 c is press fitted. The relay gear 32 d meshes with a coupling shaft gear 32 e. A coupling shaft 32 f penetrates through the center portion of the coupling shaft gear 32 e. Worms 32 g, 32 g are fixed to the opposite ends of the coupling shaft 32 f. The worms 32 g mesh with relay gears 32 h. The relay gears 32 h mesh with lead screw gears 32 i. The lead screw gears 32 i are fixed to lead screws 32 j. The lead screws 32 j are provided so as to extend in the device height direction Z along the up-and-down rails 33. As shown in FIG. 3, nuts 34 a provided to the up-and-down table 34 are screwed with the lead screws 32 j.

When the up-and-down table motor 32 c is driven, the drive force of the up-and-down table motor 32 c is transferred to the lead screws 32 j via the motor gear 32 k, the relay gear 32 d, the coupling shaft gear 32 e, the coupling shaft 32 f, the worms 32 g, the relay gears 32 h, and the lead screw gears 32 i, whereby the lead screws 32 j rotate. Thus, the up-and-down table 34 rises and lowers in the device height direction Z along the pair of up-and-down rails 33 and 33.

As shown in FIG. 8, the up-and-down table 34 is provided with a pair of hooks 35, 35 that can engage with engaging recess portions 21 d of the magazine tray 21, and a chuck 36 functioning to open and close the pair of hooks 35, 35 and to cause the pair of hooks 35, 35 to shift forward and backward.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the up-and-down table 34 is provided with a chuck motor 34 b. A reduction gear 34 c meshes with a motor gear 34 f, into which the drive shaft of the chuck motor 34 b is press fitted. The reduction gear 34 c meshes with a lead screw gear 34 d. The lead screw gear 34 d is fixed to a lead screw 34 e. The lead screw 34 e is provided to extend in the direction perpendicular to the line connecting between the pair of up-and-down rails 33 and 33. A nut 36 a fixed to the chuck 36 is screwed with the lead screw 34 e.

When the chuck motor 34 b is driven, the drive force of the chuck motor 34 b is transferred to the nut 36 a via the motor gear 34 f, the reduction gear 34 c, the lead screw gear 34 d, and the lead screw 34 e, whereby the chuck 36 shifts along the lead screw 34 e.

Further, the chuck 36 is structured to be capable of adjusting the interval of the pair of hooks 35, 35. Because the chuck 36 reduces the interval between the pair of hooks 35, 35, the pair of hooks 35, 35 can engage with the engaging recess portions 21 d, 21 d of the magazine tray 21. On the other hand, because the chuck 36 increases the interval of the pair of hooks 35, 35, the engaged state between the pair of hooks 35, 35 and the engaging recess portions 21 d, 21 d of the magazine tray 21 can be released.

The paired up-and-down rails 33 are attached to opposite side faces of a U-shaped angle plate 37, respectively. The top end portions of the paired lead screws 32 j are rotatably attached to the top face of the angle plate 37.

The picker motor 31 c, the rotary table motor 31 f, the up-and-down table motor 32 c, and the chuck motor 34 b are connected to the control unit of the electric circuit and the power supply 7 via an FFC (flexible flat cable) 114 (see FIG. 1), and drive under control of the control unit.

FIGS. 6 to 12 each show the manner of the picker 3 drawing out the magazine tray 21 from the case 22. As the run base 31 runs in the device depth direction X and the up-and-down table 34 rises and lowers in the device height direction Z along the pair of up-and-down rails 33, as shown in FIG. 6, the picker 3 shifts to the location at the front of one magazine 2 selected from a plurality of magazines 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the rotary table 32 is rotated so that the chuck 36 is oriented to the front side of the magazine 2.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the chuck 36 advances toward the magazine tray 21, whereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the pair of hooks 35, 35 is engaged with the engaging recess portions 21 d, 21 d of the magazine tray 21. In this state, by the chuck 36 receding from the case 22, the magazine tray 21 is drawn out from the case 22.

As shown in FIG. 10, by the chuck 36 receding (i.e., shifting to the location at the front of the case 22), after the cut portions 21 a of the magazine tray 21 pass through the opening 22 a of the case 22, the rotary table 32 rotates clockwise substantially about the rotation axis 32 a. In other words, as shown in FIG. 11, when the distance L1 between a vertex 21 f (i.e., the position farthest from the rotation axis 32 a) of the side face 21 b of the magazine tray 21 and the rotation axis 32 a becomes smaller than the distance L2 between the front end portion 22 b of the side face of the case 22 and the rotation axis 32 a, the rotary table 32 rotates clockwise substantially about the rotation axis 32 a. In accordance with the rotation of the rotary table 32, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the magazine tray 21 rotates substantially about the rotation axis 32 a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the magazine tray 21 is completely drawn out from the case 22.

As shown in FIG. 12, the magazine tray 21 drawn out from the case 22 is conveyed to the location near the plurality of disc drives 4 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, by the run base 31 of the picker 3 running to the device-rear side. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15, the chuck 36 of the picker 3 advances, and the magazine tray 21 is placed at a prescribed position on the magazine tray guide 51 at the top of the lifter 5. It is to be noted that, the disc drives 4 on the near side are not shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Similarly, the disc drives 4 on the near side are not shown also in FIGS. 21 to 28, which will be referred to later.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the state where the magazine tray guide 51 of the lifter 5 is taken out, and FIG. 17 is an assembly perspective view thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the lifter 5 includes an up-and-down plate 52, a rotary cam 53, a drive gear 54, a relay gear 55, and a lifter motor 56.

The up-and-down plate 52 includes up-and-down pins 52 a each being an exemplary rod-like member, and cam pins 52 b. In the present embodiment, the three up-and-down pins 52 a are provided at an interval of 120 degrees, and so are the three cam pins 52 b.

The three up-and-down pins 52 a are provided at positions where they agree with the three holes 21 e provided at the magazine tray 21 as shown in FIG. 2B, when the magazine tray 21 is placed at the prescribed position on the magazine tray guide 51 as shown in FIG. 15. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the magazine tray guide 51 is provided with three holes 51 a at the positions corresponding to the three up-and-down pins 52 a. The three cam pins 52 b are engaged with three slits 5 a provided at the body of the lifter 5. The slits 5 a are provided so as to extend in the device height direction Z.

Three cam grooves 53 a are provided at the inner circumferential face of the rotary cam 53. Each cam groove 53 a has an inclined face along which the tip portion of corresponding one of the three cam pins 52 b slides. A cam gear 53 b is provided at the outer circumferential face of the rotary cam 53. The cam gear 53 b meshes with the drive gear 54. The drive gear 54 meshes with the relay gear 55. The relay gear 55 meshes with the motor gear (not shown), into which the drive shaft of the lifter motor 56 is press fitted.

When the lifter motor 56 is driven, the drive force of the lifter motor 56 is transferred to the drive gear 54 via the motor gear (not shown) and the relay gear 55, whereby the drive gear 54 rotates. Thus, the rotary cam 53 meshing with the drive gear 54 by the cam gear 53 b rotates. As the rotary cam 53 rotates, tip portions of the three cam pins 52 b, whose rotation is regulated by the three slits 5 a, slide along the inclined face of the three cam grooves 53 a, and the up-and-down plate 52 rises and lowers in the device height direction Z. The lifter motor 56 is connected to the control unit of the electric circuit and the power supply 7 via the FFC 14 (see FIG. 1), and drives under control of the control unit.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the up-and-down plate 52 rises, the three up-and-down pins 52 a enter inside the magazine tray 21 through the three holes 51 a of the magazine tray guide 51 and the three holes 21 e of the magazine tray 21. By the rising of the three up-and-down pins 52 a, a plurality of discs 100 are pushed out from the magazine tray 21. The plurality of discs 100 pushed out by the three up-and-down pins 52 a retained by the carrier 6.

As shown in FIG. 18, the carrier 6 is provided at a housing 8 storing a plurality of (e.g., 12 pieces of) disc drives 4. The carrier 6 includes a shift base 61 shifting in the device height direction Z and a disc chuck unit 62 provided at the shift base 61.

As shown in FIG. 19, the shift base 61 is connected to a ball screw 91 via a bush 61 a and connected to a guide shaft 92 via a guide shaft bearing 61 b. The ball screw 91 and the guide shaft 92 are provided so as to extend in the device height direction Z.

As shown in FIG. 18, a pulley 91 a is attached to the top end portion of the ball screw 91. Further, the housing 8 is provided with a carrier motor 93 that produces the drive force for rotating the ball screw 91 about its axis. A pulley 93 a is attached to the drive shaft of the carrier motor 93. A belt 94 is wrapped around the pulley 91 a and the pulley 93 a.

When the carrier motor 93 is driven, the drive force of the carrier motor 93 is transferred to the ball screw 91 via the pulley 93 a, the belt 94, and the pulley 91 a, and the ball screw 91 rotates about its axis. By the rotation of the ball screw 91, the shift base 61 is guided by the ball screw 91 and the guide shaft 92 and shifts in the device height direction Z. The carrier motor 93 is connected to the control unit of the electric circuit and the power supply 7, and drives under control of the control unit.

The disc chuck unit 62 is structured to retain a plurality of discs 100 pushed out by the lifter 5, and to separate the retained plurality of discs 100 one by one. The detail of the structure of the shift base 61 and the disc chuck unit 62 will be detailed later.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the magazine tray 21 is placed at a prescribed position at the top of the lifter 5, as shown in FIG. 20, the shift base 61 is lowered to the position near the magazine tray 21. Thus, the tip portion of the disc chuck unit 62 engages with the engaging portion 23 a of the core rod 23 (see FIG. 2B) provided at the magazine tray 21, whereby the disc chuck unit 62 and the core rod 23 become coaxial to each other. In this state, the lifter motor 56 is driven and the up-and-down plate 52 rises (see FIG. 17).

When the up-and-down plate 52 rises, the up-and-down pins 52 a enter inside the magazine tray 21 through the holes 51 a and 21 e, to push out a plurality of discs 100 from the magazine tray 21. Thus, as show in FIG. 21, the disc chuck unit 62 retains the plurality of discs 100.

When the disc chuck unit 62 retains all the discs 100, the shift base 61 rises as being guided by the ball screw 91 and the guide shaft 92. Thus, engagement between the tip portion of the disc chuck unit 62 and the engaging portion 23 a of the core rod 23 (see FIG. 2B) is released. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 22, the picker 3 shifts to the device-front side, and the magazine tray 21 recedes from the location near the disc drive 4. Thereafter, under control of the control unit of the electric circuit and the power supply 7, the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4 is ejected as shown in FIG. 23.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 24, the shift base 61 is lowered such that the plurality of discs 100 retained by the disc chuck unit 62 are located above the tray 4 a (e.g., immediately above). Thereafter, by the disc chuck unit 62, the bottommost disc 100 is separated from the other discs, and placed on the tray 4 a. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the state where the bottommost disc 100 is placed on the tray 4 a.

When the bottommost disc 100 is placed on the tray 4 a, the shift base 61 is raised such that the disc chuck unit 62 and the tray 4 a are not brought into contact with each other. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 26, the tray 4 a is carried into the disc drive 4. Thereafter, or simultaneously therewith, the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4 opposing to the handled disc drive is ejected (not shown). Thereafter, in the manner similarly to that described above, a disc 100 is placed on the tray 4 a, and the tray 4 a is carried into the disc drive 4. Thus, the loading operation as to the disc drives 4 of the bottommost stage (first stage) is completed. This loading operation is repeated as to the second and following stages.

FIG. 27 shows the manner in which a disc 100 is placed on the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4 of the topmost stage (e.g., sixth stage). When the loading operation as to the topmost-stage disc drives 4 is completed, all the disc drives 4 now accommodate the discs 100, and recording on or reproduction from the discs 100 in the disc drives 4 is enabled.

The collecting of the discs 100 in the disc drives 4 should be performed in the order reverse to the foregoing manner, for example. Specifically, it is performed as follows.

Firstly, as shown in FIG. 27, the tray 4 a of the topmost-stage disc drive 4 is ejected.

Thereafter, the disc chuck unit 62 is inserted into the center hole 100 a of the disc 100 on the tray 4 a, and the disc chuck unit 62 retains the disc 100.

Thereafter, the tray 4 a from which the disc 100 is collected by the disc chuck unit 62 is carried into the disc drive 4. Thereafter or simultaneously therewith, the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4 opposing to the handled disc drive is ejected (not shown). Thereafter, in the manner similarly to that described above, the disc 100 of the tray 4 a is collected by the disc chuck unit 62, and the tray 4 a is carried into the disc drive 4. Thus, the disc collection operation as to the disc drives 4 of the topmost stage (first stage) is completed. This disc collection operation is repeated until the discs 100 in the bottommost-stage disc drives 4 are collected.

When the disc chuck unit 62 has collected all the discs 100, the shift base 61 is raised. Thereafter, the picker 3 shifts to the device-rear side, and the magazine tray 21 is set below the disc chuck unit 62.

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is lowered, and the tip portion of the disc chuck unit 62 engages with the engaging portion 23 a (see FIG. 2B) of the core rod 23, whereby the disc chuck unit 62 and the core rod 23 become coaxial to each other.

Thereafter, all the discs 100 retained by the disc chuck unit 62 are pushed into the magazine tray 21 as shown in FIG. 28, and stored.

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is raised, and the engagement between the tip portion of the disc chuck unit 62 and the engaging portion 23 a of the core rod 23 is released.

The magazine tray 21 having stored all the discs 100 are returned into the magazine stocker 1 by the picker 3. This conveyance of the magazine tray 21 into the magazine stocker 1 is achieved by, for example, performing the operations that are reverse to the operations having been described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 15.

Next, a more detailed description will be given of the structure of the disc chuck unit 62.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the disc chuck unit 62 includes separator hooks 64A, 64B, bottom hooks 65A, 65B, a spindle unit 66, and a camshaft unit 67.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of the separator hooks 64A, 64B and the bottom hooks 65A, 65B. The hooks 64A to 65B are formed to be substantially lever-shaped, and include rotary shafts 64Ac to 65Ba and drive pins 64Ab to 65Bb extending in the device height direction Z, and claw portions 64Ac to 65Bc projecting in the direction crossing the device height direction Z.

Further, as shown in FIG. 32, in the present embodiment, the inner circumferential portion of each disc 100 is provided with a recess portion 100 b. The recess portion 100 b is formed to have a shape obtained by cutting the top corner portion of the inner circumferential portion of the disc 100 so as to have a level face 100 ba and an inclined face 100 bb. As shown in FIG. 31, the bottom faces of the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B are each formed to have an inclined face, such that the thickness becomes greater downward from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side. Further, the top faces of the claw portions 64Ac to 65Bc are formed to be perpendicular to the device height direction Z.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the spindle unit 66 includes a spindle shaft 66 a of a substantially cylindrical shape, a spindle head 66 b of a substantially circular truncated cone shape provided below the spindle shaft 66 a, and a flange 66 c provided at the top end portion of the spindle shaft 66 a.

By the flange 66 c being directly or indirectly attached to the shift base 61, the spindle unit 66 shifts integrally with the shift base 61. The diameter of the spindle shaft 66 a is set to be smaller than the diameter of the center hole 100 a of each disc 100. For example, the diameter of the spindle shaft 66 a is 14.5 mm, and the diameter of the center hole 100 a of the disc 100 is 15 mm.

As shown in FIG. 33, the spindle head 66 b is fixed to the bottom end portion of the spindle shaft 66 a by a screw 66 d. Between the spindle head 66 b and the spindle shaft 66 a, four openings 66 e are formed. The claw portions 64Ac to 65Bc of the hooks 64A to 65B are structured so as to be capable of advancing and retracting through the openings 66 e.

As shown in FIG. 34, the spindle head 66 b is provided with four rotary shaft holes 66 ba. Further, as shown in FIG. 33, the spindle shaft 66 a is provided with rotary shaft holes 66 aa at the positions corresponding to the positions opposing to the rotary shaft holes 66 ba. The hooks 64A to 65B are rotatably retained, by the rotary shafts 64Ac to 65Bc being inserted into corresponding rotary shaft holes 66 aa, 66 ba. Further, the hooks 64A to 65B are retained such that the top faces of the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B are positioned higher than the top faces of the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B by the thickness of approximately one disc. Further, the separator hook 64A and the separator hook 64B are retained at the positions being out of phase by 180 degrees from each other in the circumferential direction of the spindle unit 66. The bottom hook 65A and the bottom hook 65B are retained at the positions being out of phase by 180 degrees from each other in the circumferential direction of the spindle unit 66.

In this embodiment, the second hold claw portion capable of holding an inner circumferential portion of the disc 100 is configured by the claw portions 64Ac and 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A and 64B. In the embodiment, the first hold claw portion capable of holding the inner circumferential portion of the disc 100 is configured by claw portions 65Ac and 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A and 65B.

As shown in FIG. 35, the camshaft unit 67 includes a substantially cylindrical camshaft 67 a, a cam gear 67 b provided at the top end portion of the camshaft 67 a, and cam plates 68A, 68B provided at the bottom end portion of the camshaft 67 a.

At the center portion of the cam gear 67 b, a rotary shaft hole 67 ba is provided. Into the rotary shaft hole 67 ba, a rotary shaft (not shown) provided at the shift base 61 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 18, the cam gear 67 b meshes with a relay gear 70. The relay gear 70 is structured with two gears, for example, and rotatably provided at the shift base 61. Further, as shown in FIG. 18 or 19, the relay gear 70 meshes with a motor gear 71 a, into which the drive shaft of the disc chuck motor 71 provided at the shift base 61 is press fitted.

When the disc chuck motor 71 is driven, the drive force of the disc chuck motor 71 is transferred to the camshaft 67 a via the motor gear 71 a, the relay gear 70, and the cam gear 67 b, whereby the camshaft 67 a rotates. The disc chuck motor 71 is connected to the control unit of the electric circuit and the power supply 7, and drives under control of the control unit.

As shown in FIG. 35, the bottom end portion of the camshaft 67 a is provided with an engaging portion 67 aa for engaging with the cam plate 68A, and an engaging portion 67 ab for engaging with the cam plate 68B. The engaging portions 67 aa, 67 ab are each formed to have a D-shaped cross section.

At the center portion of the cam plate 68A, a D-shaped rotary shaft hole 68Aa is provided. The cam plate 68A is structured so as to be capable of integrally rotating with the camshaft 67 a, by the engaging portion 67 aa of the camshaft 67 a engaging with the rotary shaft hole 68Aa.

At the center portion of the top face of the cam plate 68B, a D-shaped rotary shaft hole 68Ba is provided. The cam plate 68B is structured so as to be capable of integrally rotating with the camshaft 67 a, by the engaging portion 67 ab of the camshaft 67 a engaging with the rotary shaft hole 68Ba.

Further, at the center portion of the bottom face of the cam plate 68B, a rotary shaft 68Bb is provided. As shown in FIG. 29, the rotary shaft 68Bb is inserted into a rotary shaft bearing 66 ab provided at the bottom end portion of the spindle shaft 66 a.

The top face of the cam plate 68A is provided with a cam groove 68Ab (see FIG. 35) along which the drive pin 64Ab of the separator hook 64A slides when the camshaft 67 a rotates. FIGS. 37A to 37D each show the manner of the drive pin 64Ab of the separator hook 64A sliding along the cam groove 68Ab.

The bottom face of the cam plate 68A is provided with a cam groove 68Ac (see FIG. 36) along which the drive pin 64Bb of the separator hook 64B slides when the camshaft 67 a rotates. FIGS. 38A to 38D each show the manner of the drive pin 64Bb of the separator hook 64B sliding along the cam groove 68Ac. The cam groove 68Ac has mirror symmetry relative to the cam groove 68Ab, and is provided at the position being out of phase by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the spindle unit 66.

The top face of the cam plate 68B is provided with a cam groove 68Bc (see FIG. 35) along which the drive pin 65Bb of the bottom hook 65B slides when the camshaft 67 a rotates. FIGS. 39A to 39D each show the manner of the drive pin 65Bb of the bottom hook 65B sliding along the cam groove 68Bc.

The bottom face of the cam plate 68B is provided with a cam groove 68Bd (see FIG. 36) along which the drive pin 65Ab of the bottom hook 65A slides when the camshaft 67 a rotates. FIGS. 40A to 40D each show the manner of the drive pin 65Ab of the bottom hook 65A sliding along the cam groove 68Bd. The cam groove 68Bd has mirror symmetry relative to the cam groove 68Bc, and is provided at the position being out of phase by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the spindle unit 66.

FIGS. 41A to 41D are each a diagram focusing on the positional relationship between the camshaft 67 a and the four hooks 64A to 65B.

The separator hook 64A and the separator hook 64B shift such that, in accordance with the rotation of the camshaft 67 a, their respective claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc are located at the position inside the spindle shaft 66 a (see FIGS. 41A and 41B), the position outside the spindle shaft 66 a (see FIG. 41C), and the position further outside the spindle shaft 66 a (see FIG. 41D). It is to be noted that, the separator hooks 64A, 64B are provided with stoppers 64Ad, 64Bd for restricting the rotation range.

In the following, the position shown in FIG. 41A where all the hooks 64A to 65B are located inside the spindle shaft 66 a is referred to as the stored position. Further, the position shown in FIG. 41B where only the bottom hooks 65A, 65B are located outside the spindle shaft 66 a is referred to as the holding position. Further, the position shown in FIG. 41C where all the hooks 64A to 65B are located outside the spindle shaft 66 a is referred to as the switching position. Further, the position shown in FIG. 41D where the separator hooks 64A, 64B are located further outside the spindle shaft 66 a and the bottom hooks 65A, 65B are located inside the spindle shaft 66 a is referred to as the separating position.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 42 to 50, a description will be given of the operation in which the carrier 6 separates one disc from a plurality of discs and places the separated disc on the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4. It is to be noted that, throughout FIGS. 42 to 50, for the sake of convenience, the claw portions 64Ac, 64Ad of the separator hooks 64A, 64B and the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B are shown to be on an identical cross section. Further, here, the description is started from the state where the up-and-down pins 52 a push out a plurality of discs 100 from the magazine tray 21.

When the up-and-down pins 52 a push out a plurality of discs 100, as shown in FIG. 42, the spindle unit 66 is inserted inside the center hole 100 a of a plurality of discs 100. Here, the hooks 64A to 65B are located at the stored position (see FIG. 41A).

As shown in FIG. 43, when the up-and-down pins 52 a push the plurality of discs 100 until the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B are located lower than the bottommost disc among the plurality of discs, the disc chuck motor 71 (see FIG. 19) is driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a axially rotates in the normal direction. Thus, as shown in FIG. 44, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the stored position (see FIG. 41A) to the holding position (see FIG. 41B).

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is raised, and as shown in FIG. 45, the top face of the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B are brought into contact with the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc 100, to hold all the discs 100. Further, at this time, engagement between the spindle head 66 b and the engaging portion 23 a (see FIG. 2B) of the core rod 23 is released.

Thereafter, the disc chuck motor 71 (see FIG. 19) is further driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a further rotates in the normal direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the holding position (see FIG. 41B) to the switching position (see FIG. 41C), and as shown in FIG. 46, the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B are inserted into the recess portion 100 b of the bottommost disc 100.

Thereafter, the picker 3 shifts to the device-front side, whereby the magazine tray 21 recedes from the position near the disc drive 4 (see FIG. 22). Thereafter, the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4 is discharged (see FIG. 23).

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is lowered such that the plurality of discs 100 retained by the spindle unit 66 is located above the tray 4 a (e.g., immediately above). In this state, the disc chuck motor 71 is further driven, and the camshaft 67 a is rotated further in the normal direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the switching position (see FIG. 41C) to the separating position (see FIG. 41D), and as shown in FIG. 47, the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B shift to the position inside the spindle shaft 66 a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 48, the bottommost disc 100 falls by its self weight, to be placed on the tray 4 a. Further, at this time, the separator hooks 64A, 64B further project outside the spindle shaft 66 a, and the inclined face formed at the bottom face of each of the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B pushes the bottommost disc 100 downward, to function to aid the disc 100 in falling by its self weight. Still further, at this time, the top faces of the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B are brought into contact with the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc 100 out of the rest of the disc, and hold the rest of the discs 100.

When the bottommost disc 100 is placed on the tray 4 a, the shift base 61 is raised such that the spindle unit 66 and the tray 4 a are not brought into contact with each other. Thereafter, the tray 4 a is carried into the disc drive 4. Thereafter or simultaneously therewith, the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4 opposing to the handled disc drive is ejected (not shown).

Thereafter, the disc chuck motor 71 is reversely driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a rotates in the reverse direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the separating position (see FIG. 41D) to the switching position (see FIG. 41C), and as shown in FIG. 49, the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B shift to the positions outside the spindle shaft 66 a.

Thereafter, the disc chuck motor 71 is further reversely driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a further rotates in the reverse direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the switching position (see FIG. 41C) to the holding position (see FIG. 41B), whereby the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separators 64A, 64B shift to the positions inside the spindle shaft 66 a as shown in FIG. 50. As a result, the rest of the discs 100 held by the top face of the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B fall by their self weight, and held by the top face of the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B.

Thereafter, the disc chuck motor 71 is driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a rotates in the normal direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shifts from the holding position (see FIG. 41B) to the switching position (see FIG. 41C), and as shown in FIG. 46, the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B are inserted into the recess portion 100 b of the bottommost disc 100.

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is lowered such that the plurality of discs 100 retained by the spindle unit 66 is located above (e.g., immediately above) the ejected tray 4 a. In this state, the disc chuck motor 71 is further driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a further shifts in the normal direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the switching position (see FIG. 41C) to the separating position (see FIG. 41D), and as shown in FIG. 47, the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B shift to the position inner than the spindle shaft 66 a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 48, the bottommost disc 100 falls by its self weight, to be placed on the tray 4 a. Further, at this time, the separator hooks 64A, 64B further project outside the spindle shaft 66 a, and the inclined face formed at the bottom face of each of the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B pushes the bottommost disc 100 downward, to function to aid the disc 100 in falling by its self weight. Still further, at this time, the top faces of the claw portions 64Ac, 64Bc of the separator hooks 64A, 64B are brought into contact with the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc out of the rest of the discs, and hold the rest of the discs 100.

When the bottommost disc 100 is placed on the tray 4 a, the shift base 61 is raised such that the spindle unit 66 and the tray 4 a are not brought into contact with each other. Thereafter, the tray 4 a is carried into the disc drive 4. Thus, the loading operation as to the disc drives 4 of the bottommost stage (first stage) is completed. This loading operation is repeated as to the second and following stages.

When the loading operation to the topmost-stage disc drives 4 is completed, all the disc drives 4 now accommodate the discs 100, and recording on or reproduction from the discs 100 in the disc drives 4 is enabled.

Next, a description will be given of the operation of the carrier 6 collecting the discs 100 from the disc drives 4.

Firstly, the tray 4 a of the topmost-stage disc drive 4 is ejected.

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is lowered, and the spindle unit 66 is inserted into the center hole 100 a of the disc 100 on the tray 4 a. At this time, the hooks 64A to 65B are at the stored position (see FIG. 41A).

When the shift base 61 is lowered until the disc 100 is located above the bottom hooks 65A, 65B, the disc chuck motor 71 (see FIG. 19) is driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a rotates in the normal direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the stored position (see FIG. 41A) to the holding position (see FIG. 41B).

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is raised, and the top face of the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B are brought into contact with the inner circumferential portion of the disc 100, to retain the disc 100. Thus, the disc 100 on the tray 4 a is collected.

Thereafter, the tray 4 a from which the disc 100 is collected is carried into the disc drive 4. Thereafter or simultaneously therewith, the tray 4 a of the disc drive 4 opposing to the handled disc drive 4 is ejected.

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is lowered such that the disc retained by the spindle unit 66 is located above (e.g., immediately above) the disc 100 on the ejected tray 4 a.

Thereafter, the disc chuck motor 71 (see FIG. 19) is reversely driven, and the camshaft 67 a rotates in the reverse direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the holding position (see FIG. 41B) to the stored position (see FIG. 41A). Thus, the disc 100 retained by the spindle unit 66 falls by its self weight, and stacked on the disc 100 on the ejected tray 4 a.

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is lowered, and the spindle unit 66 is inserted into the center holes 100 a of the two discs 100 on the ejected tray 4 a.

When the shift base 61 is lowered until the two discs 100 are located above the bottom hooks 65A, 65B, the disc chuck motor 71 (see FIG. 19) is driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a rotates in the normal direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the stored position (see FIG. 41A) to the holding position (see FIG. 41B).

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is raised, and the top faces of the claw portions 65Ac, 65Bc of the bottom hooks 65A, 65B are brought into contact with the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc 100, to hold all the discs 100.

Thereafter, the tray 4 a from which the disc 100 is collected is carried into the disc drive 4. Thus, the disc collection operation of the disc drives 4 of the topmost stage (first stage) is completed. This disc collection operation is repeated until the discs 100 in the bottommost-stage disc drives 4 are collected.

When the spindle unit 66 has collected all the discs 100, the shift base 61 is raised. Thereafter, the picker 3 shifts to the device-rear side, and the magazine tray 21 is set below the spindle unit 66.

Thereafter, the shift base 61 is lowered, and the spindle head 66 b (see FIG. 33) engages with the engaging portion 23 a (see FIG. 2B) of the core rod 23, whereby the spindle head 66 b and the core rod 23 become coaxial to each other.

Thereafter, the disc chuck motor 71 (see FIG. 19) is reversely driven, whereby the camshaft 67 a rotates in the reverse direction. Thus, the hooks 64A to 65B shift from the holding position (see FIG. 41B) to the stored position (see FIG. 41A). Thus, all the discs 100 retained by the spindle unit 66 fall by their self weight along the spindle head 66 b and the core rod 23, and stored in the magazine tray 21.

According to the disc device of the embodiment, the magazine tray 21 in which a plurality of discs 100 are stored is conveyed to a position near the disc drive 4. That is, the plurality of discs 100 are conveyed to the position near the disc drive 4 at the same time. According to the disc device of the embodiment, the plurality of discs 100 are retained by the carrier 6 in the stacked state, and one disc from the plurality of discs is separated at a position above the tray 4 a of each of the disc drives 4. Thus, as compared with the conventional disc device which conveys discs from the magazine to the disc drives one by one, it is possible to largely reduce time required for conveying the discs 100 to the plurality of disc drives 4.

According to the disc device of the embodiment, since a plurality of disc drives 4 can be used at the same time, it is possible to realize a transmission rate higher than that of LTO (Linear Tape-Open). For example, a transmission rate of the LTO is currently about 140 MB/S. On the other hand, a transmission rate of an optical disc (BD) is about 4.5 MB/S in the case of single-speed, and about 18 MB/S in the case of quad-speed. According to the disc device of the embodiment, since twelve disc drives 104 can be used at the same time, it is possible to realize a transmission rate of about 216 MB/S.

Although the hooks 64A to 65B shift to the four positions, i.e., the stored position (see FIG. 41A), the holding position (see FIG. 41B), the switched position (see FIG. 41C) and the separating position (see FIG. 41D) in the embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The hooks 64A to 65B may shift to three positions, i.e., the holding position, the switching position, and the separating position. In this case, the disc device should be configured such that the hooks 64A to 65B are located at the holding position, and the hooks 64A and 64B come into contact with the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc 100 and hold all of the discs 100 when the spindle unit 66 is inserted into the center holes formed in the plurality of discs 100. That is, the disc device should be configured such that in a state where the hooks 64A to 65B are located at the holding position, the spindle unit 66 is inserted into the center holes formed in the plurality of discs 100 from above, the hooks 64A and 64B come into contact with the inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc 100 and hold all of the discs 100. Thus, it is not necessary to shift the hooks 64A to 65B to the stored position (FIG. 41A).

Although the present disclosure has been fully described in connection with the embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.

Since the disc device of the present disclosure can avoid an increase in the time required for supplying discs to a plurality of disc drives, the present disclosure is especially useful for a disc device provided with a large number of magazines.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-127164 filed on Jun. 4, 2012 including specification, drawing and claims are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc device for supplying a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives, the disc device comprising: a carrier which retains a plurality of discs stacked in a stacked state, which separates one disc from the retained plurality of discs at a position above a tray ejected from an arbitrary one of the disc drives, and which places the separated disc on the tray, wherein the carrier includes: a spindle unit inserted into a center hole formed in each of the plurality of discs; a first hold claw portion which holds an inner circumferential portion of the one disc; and a second hold claw portion which is provided at a position higher than the first hold claw portion by substantially a thickness of the one disc, the second hold claw portion holding an inner circumferential portion of the one disc, and the one disc from the retained plurality of discs is separated by shifting the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion back and forth between an inner side and an outer side of the spindle unit.
 2. The disc device according to claim 1, wherein the first claw portion and the second hold claw portion are configured to shift to: a holding position where only the first hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit, a switching position where both the first claw portion and the second hold claw portion project outward of the spindle unit, and a separating position where only the second hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit.
 3. The disc device according to claim 2, wherein the first hold claw portion and second hold claw portion shift to the holding position, the switching position, and the separating position in this order when a cam shaft inserted inside of the spindle unit rotates about an axis of the cam shaft.
 4. The disc device according to claim 2, wherein: when the spindle unit is inserted into the center holes formed in each of the plurality of discs, the first and second hold claw portions are located at the holding position, the first hold claw portion comes into contact with an inner circumferential portion of a bottommost disc of the plurality of discs and holds the plurality of discs, when the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion shift from the holding position to the switching position, and when the first hold claw portion is conveyed to a position above the tray in a state where the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion shift from the switching position to the separating position.
 5. The disc device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second hold claw portions shift to: a stored position where both the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion recede inside of the spindle unit, a holding position where only the first hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit, a switching position where both the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion project outward of the spindle unit, and a separating position where only the second hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit.
 6. The disc device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion has a plurality of claw portions whose phases are different from one another in a circumferential direction of the spindle unit.
 7. The disc device according to claim 5, wherein the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion shift to the stored position, the holding position, the switching position, and the separating position in this order when a cam shaft inserted inside of the spindle unit rotates about an axis of the cam shaft.
 8. The disc device according to claim 5, wherein: when the spindle unit is inserted into center holes formed in each of the plurality of discs, the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion are located at the stored position, when the spindle unit is inserted into the center holes until the first hold claw portion is located below a bottommost disc of the plurality of discs, the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion shift from the stored position to the holding position, the first hold claw portion comes into contact with an inner circumferential portion of the bottommost disc and holds the plurality of discs, when the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion shift from the holding position to the switching position, and when the first hold claw portion is conveyed to a position above the tray in a state where the first hold claw portion holds the plurality of discs, the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion shift from the switching position to the separating position.
 9. The disc device according to claim 4, wherein a thickness of the second hold claw portion becomes greater downward from an outer circumferential side to an inner circumferential side, the second hold claw portion projects outward of the spindle unit when the second hold claw portion is located at the separating position as compared to when the second hold claw portion is located at the switching position, and the second hold claw portion presses the bottommost disc downward.
 10. The disc device according to claim 2, wherein an inner circumferential portion of each of the plurality of discs is provided with a recess portion, and when the second hold claw portion shifts to the holding position, the second hold claw portion is inserted into the recess portion of the one disc.
 11. A disc to be used in a disc device including a carrier which retains a plurality of discs stacked in a stacked state, the disc being one of the plurality of discs retained by the carrier, the carrier separating the disc from the retained plurality of discs at a position above a tray ejected from an arbitrary one of a plurality of disc drives, and the carrier placing the separated disc on the tray, the carrier including: a spindle unit inserted into a center hole formed in each of the plurality of discs; a first hold claw portion which holds an inner circumferential portion of the disc; and a second hold claw portion which is provided at a position higher than the first hold claw portion by substantially a thickness of the disc, the second hold claw portion holding an inner circumferential portion of the disc, and the disc from the retained plurality of discs is separated by shifting the first hold claw portion and the second hold claw portion back and forth between an inner side and an outer side of the spindle unit, wherein an inner circumferential portion of the disc has a recess portion into which the second hold claw portion having shifted to the holding position is inserted. 